Synchronizing clutch for speed change systems



.l Feb. 21,1956

R. S. TAYLOR SYNCHRONIZING CLUTCH FOR SPEED CHANGE SYSTEMS OriginalFiled Aug. 25, 1942 22 "nu" A "mnu-" 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR ROBERTTAYLUR ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1950 R. s. TAYLOR 2,498,464

' SYNCHRONIZING CLUTCH FOR SPEED CHANGE SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 25,1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I /NvENToR ROBERT s. TAYLOR Patented Feb. 21, 1950SYNCHRONIZING CLUTCH FOR SPEED CHANGE SYSTEMS Robert S. Taylor, Seattle,Wash.; Florence E. Taylor executrix of said Robert S. Taylor Originalapplication August 25, 1942, Serial No. 456,299. Divided and thisapplication April 17, 1946, Serial No. 662,675

My invention relates to mechanism for changing speed ratios in vehicles;and more particularly to a synchronizing clutch in said mechanism.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedSyncro-mesh clutch for connecting parts of the gearing together fordirect drive.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adoptvariant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Y This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.456,299, led August 25, 1942, which resulted in Letters Patent No.2,398,814, dated April 23, 1946.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of my transmission, of which mysynchronizing clutch forms a part.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view showing the floating member of theSyncro-mesh clutch. The plane of section is indicated by the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

s claims. (c1. 19a-53)A Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of theclutch shifting mechanism, taken in a plane indicated by line 3 3 ofFigure l.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of arrow 4 ofFigure 1, showing portions of the floating clutch member and orbit gearconnection. In this view the normally curved surfaces of the parts areflattened out into a plane to illustrate the structure more clearly.

My speed change transmission comprises a gearing embodying torque meansfor automatically changing between overdrive and direct drive; and meansassociated with the regular clutch and/or throttle mechanisms formodifying automatic operation of the unit. The gearing employed in mytransmission is preferably a planetary system; and the overdrive ratiois established by an improved brake and lock mechanism for holding apart of the gearing against rotation. An improved syncro-mesh clutch isprovided for conf My transmission comprisesa housingl having a bodyportion 2 and end plate 3 secured'together by screws 4. The housing ispreferably interposed in torque tube 6 of an automobile behind theregular transmission with sections of the tube engaged by necks 8 and 9on the housing body and end plate respectively. Leading portion I I ofthe propeller shaft provides the drive shaft of my unit, and trailingportion I2 forms the driven shaft. When power is being transmittedthrough the unit from drive shaft I .I to driven shaft I2 the mechanismis subjected to a certain kind of loading which I shall refer to as adriving load; and when the rear wheels of the car tend to overrun therate at which they are driven the mechanism is subjected to a differentloading which I term coasting 1oad; these terms being conventional inthe trade.

The overdrive transmissionv chosen for purposes of illustrationcomprises a planetary gearing having a planet pinion I3journaled onshaft I4 mounted on a pinion carrier I 6 splined to drive shaft I I.Orbit gear I1 of the planetary system is mounted for rotation withdriven shaft I2l by a hub I8 splined to the shaft and provided with a`ange I9 peripherally splined to the orbitl gear and held by retainingring 2 I. Sun gear 22 is formed as part of a sleeve 23 freely journaledon the drive shaft on a bearing 24.

The entire mechanism is journaled in the hous- -ing by two main bearings26 and 27. vOne of these is disposed about the drive shaft and isretained by end plate 3, while the other is interposed between hub I8and neck 8 of the main housing. Hub I 8 also carries speedometer gear`28; and an oil retaining ring 29 is interposed between the hub and neckbehind gear 28.

Means are provided for holding the sun gear against rotation to effectplanetary o-peration of the system for establishing an overdriveconnection between the shafts. For this purpose a brake mechanismgenerally indicated by reference numeral 3| is employed; the brake beingengaged by reverse (counter-clockwise) `torque ,of the sun gear undercoasting load, and disengaged by forward (clockwise) torque of the sungear under driving load. In the present specification the references todirection of` rotation and torque (clockwise and counter-clockwise) aretaken as viewed from the left in Figure 1; the clockwise rotation beingconsidered as forward in the conventional manner. l

Brake 3l for establishing the overdrive con` nection -comprises laperipherally toothed rotor.:- A32 splined to a hub 33 connectable to sungear sun gear 'whenever clutch member-i34iisagin ther position fshownin'Figure 1 with its teeth '39 engaging teeth 4| and 42 respectively ofthe`sleeve and hub.

Means which are described in detail infmy said. copending application,are providedfforlocking the rotor 32 against rotation, and forfreeing'it to permit its rotation, but this mechanisnnforms no part ofthe present inventionfandneed "not It is sufficient tolsay that bedescribed here. y when the brake is locked, thersun gearlisheld againstclockwise rotation, and the driving thrust is transmitted by drive shaftto orbit gearHI'I through planet pinion I3 which in turn planetatesabout the fixed sun gear. The orbit gear thus rotates "forwardly `atLa'faster Yratefthan .the'fdrive shaft,and' thisiisreflectedrbyincreasedrspeed of driven'fshaft 'IZ-.in accordanf'se v'with the i usualv planetaryoverdrivexprinciple- `With"the'ibra'ke unlockedit-willdisengage to release-the sun-.gear under'the torquezconditions imposedby: a- :driving iload. In 'orderfto'establish a; direct 'driveconnection upon release'nf :the-sun gear,1meansjare provided for lockingthefpartsc'of the'planetary gearing ftogether. for'. rotatongasr aVunit. "A one-Way '.clutchgenerally designated by reference 'numeralIIJE'iisl interposedtbetwe'en the sun and 5,orbitzgears., This v4directdrive clutch comprises rollers 11| 06 Vworking between anY inner`vclutchjring |671 formed onf-sun gear sleeve 23,v and-an outerclutchring Izhaving a flanged-8U peripherally splinedxto `an end vofthe-orbitgear and heldby retainingA ring I The clutch rollers Vare 'held-by' asuitablespringpressed cage I I2, -and-coactfwith ilatson the-'innerclutch ring lltoconnect ther-sun and-@orbit ,gearstogether when. the sungear` tends to v*run clockwise at 'a ratefaster than.` the orbit gear.

.Theone-wayfclutch; thusrfunctions .to lock upthe'planetaryfgearing"asfsoon as the sun-:gear is4 releasedbyloverdrivebrake :31, .because ay driving loaclonthe unit-tendstosfpinthe sungear.. clockwise. Shock ofA clutchengagementisavoided by n the.inertia of .brake rotor 32 A`and Athe .connected partswhichI functionasejlywheel to prevent themeleased sun, gear.. from.acceleratingtodrapidly.,y With this inertialoadto overcome, the sungeargradually .cornes up to the speedof Vthe orbit gear, whereupon theone-way clutch engages smocthlyandfwithout clash., Y .Y

"Means `are still, further providedorlshifting the fslida'bleclutchmember 34 :to positively lock thejparts of the'A planetary "gearing,together -for direct drive. VWhen member 34 is inthe left handpositionjshown inFigure `1, the sun gearis con-r nected 'with the(overdrive brake as has already been described. "By shifting the'membertoward therright the"brake ymechanism is'cut out, kand positiveconnection is established between thefsun aridi-orbit gears.l Shiftingis'accompl-ished by a yoke I I3engag'ing'an annular 'groovel I 4 inmemberi34'. 'Theyekeiis splined to2a=shaft"| Ijournaledin'the housing.Aspring `|It',jFigure'S, interposed between the shaft and" housingnormallylurges clutch member' 34towa'r'd'the left.

Means described-lin'detail in my 'said cepending application, areprovided-for'rocking the shaft I Sito pntffd4 vunit -into"dire`ctdrivefautomatieally whenever' itherregulan transmission isput intolreverse.; andwmeansvmanually operated from-fthe# dash is also' providedfor rocking the shaft to y l,is'reely journaled on the sun gear sleeveand is connected .for limited turning movement relative meshed withteethl 31 on part I respectively. Figure 4' clearly shows-the free playbetween these teeth which allows for the desired relative movement.`

' Floating ring |34also has peripheral teeth |38 ladaptedtofbe engagedby the internal teeth 39 on clutch member 314 when the latter is shiftedto theright. As seen in Figures 2 and 3, teeth 39 and |38 are relativelylnarrow and are widely spaced circumferentially. This widespacingwillinsure'meshing of the teeth in most positions of thesun and orbit-gears.`The adjacent ends-of teeth 3B and |38 are also beveled as indicatedbybevels |133 onteeth`t38 in Figures 2 and`4. Should the teeth meetend.on,"these bevels usually Iwill force the floating ring yto turnenou-ghto permit meshing; it being remembered that the'ifloating ring isffree to' turn ai limite'dfdegree yrelative-.to theshiftable memberlbecause ,of the loose connection with part |08. f Y' y The only othercondition: to take .care of -isthe exceptionalone wherethe narrow flatend faces of^teeth"39 and |38 happen to Aabut squarely. Therefore I.provideeach tooth`|38 with a'relatively narrow beveled edge MG,presenting afnarrow. bearing surface/adaptedto Aslide 'along' theinclined plane Ml, formed on arlletatthe-base of each l'tooth |'3'I ongearingtpart Hi8; 'When the shiftable member34` is moved to" the right(of v v thefloating ring '.i34bythe Ashiftable -member?34,'

' of 'the teeth 39 and |38 kout forces the floating ring toward Ythepart Itlgfthe narrow beveled vedges #40 sliding valong the widerinclined planes I 4 I *andthej entire floating ring f rotatingV relativetoV thepart its' :andshiftable member 54 enough to move the abuttingat'v'ends Vof alignment-and permit meshing thereof.

I claim: f

l.v In aspeed change system,fa gearing, a shiftable clutchrnembermounted for rotation with a'part of the gearing and `havingteeththereon,

a floating clutchimember having teeth adapted to mesh :with those of theshiftable member, means for positively Vconnecting the floating memberfor rotation with'a second part ofthe gearing and .allowing a limiteddegree of relative turning movement between the floating member 4 andsaidA second part, whereby 'the' teeth `on Ythe floating :member maymove pastithose onthe shiftable member to permit meshing' thereoigand'means for effecting said turning `moi/ement 4upon axial pressure appliedtothe floating member by saidxshiftable member. f

2. In a speed change. system, agearing, a shiftableclutch member mountedfor rotation with a part Yof the gearing and having'teethv-thereon, afloating clutchmember having teeth ladapted to mesh with" those of ltheshiftable-member, means for positively yconnecting the floating turningmovement between-theLiloating-fmember and said second part, whereby theteeth on the: floating member may move past those on the shiftablemember to permit meshing thereof, and means including an inclined planefor effecting said turning movement upon axial pressure being applied tothe oating member by said shiftable member.

3. In a speed change system, a gearing, a shiftable clutch membermounted for rotation with a part of the gearing and having teeththereon, a oating clutch member having teeth adapted to mesh with thoseof the shiftable member, the adjacent ends of the teeth of bothshiftable member and clutch member being beveled and the said teeth ofboth members being widely spaced circumferentially, and means forpositively connecting the floating member for rotation with a secondpart of the gearing and allowing a limited degree of relative turningmovement between the iioating member and said second part, whereby theteeth on the oating member may move past those on the shiftable memberto permit meshing thereof.

4. In a speed change system, a gearing, a shiftable clutch membermounted for corelative rotation with a part of the gearing and havingteeth thereon, a floating clutch member having teeth adapted to meshwith those of the shiftable member, means including a series of teethextending from the side of the oating member for connecting the oatingmember for rotation with a second part of the gearing and allowing alimited degree of relative turning movement between the floating memberand said second part, whereby the teeth on the oating member may movepast those on the shiftable member to permit meshing thereof, and meansfor effecting said turning movement upon axial pressure applied to theoating member by said shiftable member.

5. In a speed change system, a gearing, a shiftable clutch membermounted for rotation with a part of the gearing and having teeththereon, a floating clutch member having teeth adapted to mesh withthose of the shiftable member,

l Number means including a series of teeth extending frm the side of thefloating member and a series ,of teeth extending from a second part ofthe gearing for connecting the floating member for rotation with saidsecond part of the gearing, said teeth in both series being spaced apartcircumferentially to allow a limited degree of relative turning movementbetween the iioating member and said second part, whereby the teeth onthe floating member may move past those on the shiftable member topermit meshing thereof, and means for effecting said turning movementupon axial pressure applied to the oating member by said shiftablemember.

6. In a speed change system, a gearing, a shiftable clutch membermounted for rotation with a part of the gearing and having teeththereon, a oating clutch member having teeth adapted to mesh with thoseof the shiftable member, a series of relatively widely spaced teethextending from the side of the floating member, each tooth of the serieshaving a relatively narrow beveled edge, a second series of relativelynarrow teeth extending from a second part of the gearing and into thespaces between the teeth of the rst series, each tooth of the secondseries having at its base an inclined plane to engage the narrow bevelededge of the adjacent tooth of the first series to force a relativeturning movement between the oating member and the second gearing partupon axial pressure applied to the floating member by the shiftablemember to permit meshing of the shiftable member teeth and the floatingmember teeth.

ROBERT S. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,784,722 Carickhoff Dec. 9, 1930`2,238,723 Fishburn Apr. 15, 1941 2,258,475 Sinclair Oct. 7, 1941

